1925
It was a different world when the IHSAA conducted its 1925 boys basketball state tournament, the first one in which Carmel made it all the way to the state finals.
A total of 676 teams participated – a reminder of how many schools there were before the consolidation craze took hold beginning in the late 1950’s. There were still 64 sectionals, so the events were much more crowded than they are today. The IHSAA said in its 1925 handbook that schools were “assigned by counties with the intention of having no less than eight and no more than 16 teams in each tourney.” The group almost pulled it off, with the exception of a handful of sectionals.
Noblesville hosted an 11-team sectional, which featured all 10 (yes, 10) Hamilton County schools, plus Tipton. Carmel beat Tipton in the championship game, 19-18.
The Greyhounds then won two games at the Anderson regional, defeating Stoney Creek 26-22 and New Castle 26-24. That qualified Carmel for the 16-team state finals, where it lost in the first round to Washington 28-17.
1970
Carmel’s second state appearance came on March 21, 1970 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University.
After beating Loogootee 71-62 in the semi-finals, the Greyhounds fell to East Chicago Roosevelt 76-62 in the championship game. Roosevelt outscored Carmel in each of the four quarters, pouring in 27 points in the fourth.
Dave Shepherd led the ‘Hounds with 40 points. While Carmel was denied at Hinkle, the boys golf team would win the state championship three months later – the first of the Greyhounds’ 139 IHSAA state titles.
1977
Carmel won a screamer for its first-ever boys basketball state title in 1977, edging East Chicago Washington 53-52 in the championship game.
Jon Ogle banked in a basket with four seconds left to clinch the winning points for the Greyhounds. Carmel led 46-38 after three quarters and held off a comeback by the Senators in the fourth period.
Mark Herrmann and Bart Burrell both scored 16 points for the ‘Hounds. Herrmann would also win the Arthur L. Trester (Mental Attitude) Award. Video of the game is available at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxosBVdU6SI.
Carmel beat Columbus East 71-60 in the semi-finals.
1993
The third appearance for Carmel at state was a quick one, as the Greyhounds fell to eventual champion Ben Davis 62-46 in the semi-finals on March 27, 1993.
The Giants led 39-34 after three periods, but ran away with the fourth quarter by outscoring Carmel 23-12. Mark Giller led the ‘Hounds with 17 points.
2012
Back in the state finals after almost 20 years, Carmel ran away from Pike 80-67 to win the Class 4A state championship on March 24, 2012.
The Greyhounds set two records during the game. Ben Gardner led Carmel with 31 points, the most ever scored in a 4A championship contest. Gardner also set a new 4A record for most free throws made with 15; that also tied the record for all classes. The ‘Hounds also broke the team record for most free throws made and attempted, going 30-of-45.
Sam Curts scored 18 points and won the Trester Mental Attitude Award.
2013
Carmel made it back-to-back state championships for the first time on March 23, 2013 by holding off Cathedral 57-53.
The Greyhounds led 21-6 after the first quarter, and that advantage carried them through as the Irish attempted their comeback. Michael Volovic scored 19 points, James Crowley added 14 and Ryan Cline scored 11.
Michael Volovic won the Trester Mental Attitude Award.
